Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



June 2l 1927.

J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM original Filed Aug. 51. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `lune 2l, 1927.

UNITED STATES YPATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 W. H. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSOBBING MECHANISM.

Application led August 31, 1922, Serial No. 585,448. Renewed February 17, 1927.

My invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism, more particularly adapted for railway draft rigging, which is simple and eflicient and wherein is obtained a high capacity, due to the large friction areas provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the intercalated plate type including a differential wedge action, whereby quick and positive release of the parts is assured.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description herein following. l p Y In the drawings forming a part of the specification, Fig. 1 shows ya horizontal longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith. Fig. 2 shows a vertical longitudinal sectional View, substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a vertical, transverse sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the end of the follower casing; illustrating the connection between the friction plates and the follower. And Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tapered column. y v

In said drawings, -10 indicate channelshaped draft sills, to the inner faces of which are secured, front and rear stop lugs 11 and 12. A portion of a draw bar is indicated at 13, to which, as shown, is attached the U-shaped yoke 14, of the usual construction. The shock absorbingl mechanism proper, hereinafter described, including the front and rear follower casings, is disposed within the yoke. The movable parts of the draft rigging are adapted to be supported by a detachable saddle plate V15.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism, as shown, comprises front and rear follower casings A-A, two grou s of friction plates B-B, wedge blocks. --C, wedge shoes D--D, a tapered column E, and a spring resistance F.v

The front and rear follower casings A, are

and lower walls 16 and 17, and the side walls `18. Said rear wall 19 of each follower casing A, is thickened at the center to provide the inwardly extending abutment 20, which cooperates with `the wedge blocks C.. The abutment 20 extends from the upper wall 16 to the lower wall 17 of the casing, but is spaced from the side walls 18 of th-e casing to provide recesses 21-21 adapted to receive the ends of the friction plates B. The wall 19 and the abutment 2O are centrally per-` forated as shown at 22 `to receive a retaining bolt hereinafter described. At the outer face in alinement with the recess 22, the rear wall 19 is provided Vwith an enlarged recess 23 to receive the nut of the retaining bolt. The upper wall 16 and the lower wall 17 of each casing is provided respectively with a kprojecting rib 24. As shown in Fig. 1, this rib rejects inwardly from the side wall to- `wart the enlargement 20, terminating a short distance from the same, thus providing v a space through which the ends of the plates B may be inserted in the recess 21. It will be noted that the front and rear follower caslngs A, house the friction plates B,

`wedges C, wedge shoes D, column E and the lspring resistance F and that the rear wall 19 of each casing is adapted to abut the corresponding front or rear follower stops.

As shown in the drawings, the friction.

plates B are divided into two groups oppositely located and inthe specific embodiment lllustrated, each group comprises six plates,

but it is obvious that a 'greater or lesser number lma be made use of. Alternate lplates of eac group comprise a set of plates 25 connected to the front follower and a set of lates 26 connected to the rear follower, sai plates 25 and 26 being so arranged that the ends of the plates 25 are ynormally spaced from the inner face of the wall19 of the rear follower Aa distance greater than the distance between the inner 4ends 70 of the casin s A, and the ends of theplates 26 are space a similar distance from the inner face of the wall 19 of the front follower. By this arrangement the ends 70 ofk thecasings are caused to abut before the plates contact withV the end walls of the followers, the f0llower casings thereby assuming the fullload and transmitting the same to the draft sills. Each of the plates 25 and 26is provided at the upper and lower edge, near one end' thereof, with notches 27 to engage with the ribs 24 on the followers, to thereby connect and 26 are recessed at the upper and lower L the plates to move with their respective followers. Upon reference to Fig. 4,' it will be noted that the free ends of the plates edges as shown 2113,28. These recessed portions 2S are provided so thatthe ends of the plates may move inwardly beyond the ribs 24 during the compression ot' the mechanism andv clear the ribs, but the plates are revented from contacting with said walls ue to their movement being limited by the engagement of inner ends of as'previously described.`

The spring resistance F comprises an outer the casings A comparativelyheavy coiled spring 28, and f an inner lighter spring 29. The springs 28 and 29 are housed within the column E.

The column E as most clearly shown in F igs.: 1, 2 and 5 is of hollow box-like construction, being tapered outwardly from the center to its opposite ends, as indicated at 42-42 in Fig. 1. Said column comprises 'upper and lower walls 30 and-31 connected by end Walls 32u32, and narrow side walls 33-33. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the side walls 33-33 "of the column E are con-` nected by transversely extending inner walls 3434 which are also connected to the upper and lower walls `and 3l of the column, but are spaced apart centrally as indicated at 35 to provide, an opening for vinsertion of the retaining bolt. It will be noted that the arrangement of the walls 32-32 and walls 34-34 is such that a space is rovided therebetween as clearly shown in gigs. 2 and 5 and indicated by 36. Upon ret'- erence to Figp, it will be noted that the arrangement of thenarrow vertical walls 33 provides large rectangular 'openings in the sides of the column E to permit the springs fto be inserted and toaccommodate the coils of the `heavy spring 28. The walls 32f32V are provided with central perforations 37 to receive the retaining boltsf38. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the retaining bolts 38 hold the column E in assembled relation with vthe followers A, by engaging fthe head `39 of each bolt with the inner face of thewall 32 and theV nut 40 of each bolt with the inner which co-act with the Vwedge blocks' (las.

hereinafter described. y y

`The wedge shoes D are arranged inpairs at opposlte ends ofthe spring resistanceF Aand eachV shoe Dcomprises an outer flat face.` `43,"an inner inclined face 44 ,of approxi-v 60 mately half the length of the oiiter face" 43 and terminating in an innershoulder 45 i formed by the inner portion of kthe shoe V,being cut out or recessedas shown at 145.

The shoulders 45 formabutments for. spring follower plates 46, interposed between thc ing movement laterally on the same.

opposite endso the spring` resistance F and the adjacent ends of the shoes D. The followerplates 46 are of rectangular outline and Ahavetheir outer faces centrally recessed, as

flanges 49 is greater than the width ol the column E so that a proper clearance is provided, to allow the spring-follower plates 46 to move outwardly relatively to the column E from the normal position shownin Fig. l to compensate for wear. Y

The wedge blocks C are four in numberl in the particular embodiment of the invention herein disclosedl and are arranged in pairs at opposite ends of the draftv gear co-acting with the `respective followers A. The blocks C are ofhollow construction as will be evident from reference to Fig. 1 and each is provided with an inner flat face 50, slightly inclined to the longitudinal axis of the gear to correspond with the inclination of the corresponding face 42 of the column E. Each block C is also provided with a rear fiat face 51 which engagesl with the abutment 2O of the follower A and has s(l)id- P positethe face of each block C, there is is provided a `vertically extending flat face 52, connected with theface 50 at the `orward end by wedgeface portion 53 which is adapted to contact and cooperate with the wedge face 44 on'a wedgeshoe D. The arwedge action which -assuresquickrelease of the mechanism.

Inthe operation of my device, assuming that! the gea'ris bulfed, the front followerl lll() casing A will be moved rearwardly rela-V tively to the rear follower casing A, thereby Vmoving the wedge blocks C towardfeach other, causing the wedge shoes which are resisted Vby thesprings 28 and 29, to move outwardly relatively to each other and press laterally on the plates B, thereby increasing ,the rictional resistance between the plates. After the Blessure has been set up between the plates the continued movement'of the follower A willcausethe wedge block C to `move further inwardly, and as the sanieresistance isgofi'eredby each' taperingend `of the column E, the Vblocks C and the ends of the column E will move the-same dist-ance relatively at each end and on .laccountjo'f the wedging action between the column E and the blocks C, the Abloclrswill simultaneously 'moved outwardly relativelyto .theV

center ofthe gear, thus causing the engaging wedge faces 44"and `53`to`move allot the wedge shoesV longitudinally inwardly of the gear.` This causes a. longitudinal "move-v Vment of each pair of shoes relatively to the coacting follower, thus compressing the spring resistance ,F inaddition to the comload will be transmitted directly'through, the casings to the draft sills'of the car.

A similar action will occur'when a draft force is appli-ed to the rear follower of the gear. Upon release of the mechanism, 1t will be vobvious that the action of the springs28 and 29 in expanding will first cause the shoes D to sliderelatively to the plates 26, moving therewith the wedge blocks C relatively to the tapering ends of the column E and causing prompt release of the wedge members. It should also be noted that the plates 25 during the compressive action of the mechanism, move relatively to the rear follower A and as the outer plates 25 of each group contact with the inner faces of the side walls 18 of the rear follower A, the rear follower also .acts in the capacity of a friction casing. It should also be noted that the wedge shoes D of the front follower A, slide relatively on the inner faces of the plates 26, thereby setting up frictional resistance between the same. i

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modiiications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism; the combination with a plurality of groups of intercalated relatively longitudinally movable friction plates; of front and rear followers co-acting with said plates t-o produce relative movement of the same; means for limiting lateral movement of said plates; a spring resistance between said sets of plates; and wedge-acting means .at oppositel ends of said spring resist-ance interposed between the same and the adjacent follower and co-acting with the friction plates, each of said wedge-acting means including a plurality of wedge blocks associated with each follower, and a plurality of co-acting wedge shoes associated with the end of the spring resistance, whereby pressure Yis set up between -said intercalated plates during the compressive action of the mechanism.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism; the combination with front and rear followers; of a plurality of spacedk apart said spring resistance and having its o groups of. intercalated" relatively movable friction plates between-said followers, alternate plates of each of said groups being'connected to the front and rear followers respectively and movable therewith; lateral abutment means co-acting with said grou s of plates; a spring resistance between said groups of plates; a wedge associated .withk each follower', said wedge comprising ia plurality of wedge blocks slidably mounted relatively to said follower; and a plurality of wedge shoes interposed between the end of the spring resistance and the adjacent follower co-.acting with said wedge, to create pressure on'said intercalatedplates during compressive action of thev mechanism; y

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism; the combination with apluralityofV groups of intercalated relatively `movable friction plates; of front andV rear followers co-acting with said plates to relatively move the same; abutment means for limiting lateral movement of'said plates; a spring regroups of plates; and

sistance between said differential wedge-acting means at opposite ends of said spring resistance including a wedge column-having wedging means at its opposite ends.

4l. Ina friction shock absorbingv mechanism; the combination with frontand rear followers; of a plurality of groups of intercalated plates between said followers, said groups being spaced apart laterally and alternate plates of each group being movable by Contact with the front and rear followers, respectively; means for resisting lateral out-r ward movement of said plates; a spring resistance between said groups of plates; a plurality of wedge-blocks slidably movable on each follower; a hollow column enclosing P0 site ends interposed between the blocks on each follower; and a plurality of wedge shoes at each end of said spring resistance co-acting with said wedge blocks, whereby wedging pressure 'is transmitted to said intercalated plates, setting up `frictional resistance therebetween during the compressive action of said shock absorbing mechanism.

`5. yIn a friction shock absorbing mechanism; the combination with a plurality of groups of yintercalated relatively movable friction plates; of front and rear followers co-acting with said plates to relatively move lwedge blocks. and a pair of wedge shoes,

said blocks bearing on the adjacent follower and co-acting with the wedge shoes and the wed infr means on the column whereb Y b a wedging presure` is transmitted to said groups of plates when the shock absorbing mechanism operates.`

6. In a frictionshock absorbing mecha.-

`nism; the combination with a plurality of `groups of intercalated relatively movable having wedging means at its end; and aV wedge-acting means between an end of said spring resistance and the adjacent follower, y

said wedge-acting means comprisinga pair of wedge blocks and a pair of wedge shoes, said blocks bearing on the adjacent follower and co-acting with the wedge shoes and the :Wedging means on `the column, whereby a di'erential ,wedging action is set` up andA `pressure transmitted to said plates during the compressive action of the mechanism.`

i y 7.111 a frictionjshock absorbing mechanism,ithe combination with `front and rear Vwalls of vthe centrally Vdisposed means Vand relatively movable follower acting elements, 25 i each having spaced longitudinally extend- -ing walls disposed onopposite sidesof the` i mechanism; of a centrally disposed lateral pressure resisting means independent of said *I followers, said centrally `disposed means hav` `ing longitudinally disposed walls on opposite sides of thef axis of the mechanism; a

`group of longitudinally disposed relatively movable intercalated'friction plates at each side of the mechanism; lateral pressure'cre` ating` means co-op'eratingf with each group fof plates, ithe group of plates and the lateral p `pressure creating means at eachrside of the v mechanism being yinterposed between theA the followers at the/correspondingside of the mechanism; and means foryieldingly `opposing relativemovement ofthe plates of said groups. Y

In witness that I claim the foregoing I 45 haveihereunto subscribed my name this 9th "day of Aug., 1922. i

JOHN F. oooNNoa 

